83. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to respond to the finding of the final substantive report of the commission of investigation into certain matters relative to a disability service in the south east and related matters, also known as the Farrelly commission, volumes 1 and 2; and the planned next steps in response. [21193/25]
Sentiment score: 0.11
I ask the Minister to respond to the report of the Farrelly commission into what has usually been termed the Grace case. More importantly, I want to know what the Minister's next steps will be and what she plans to do in response. I appreciate that much of this is HSE-related and there are a lot of questions for the HSE to answer. We are reminded that when Grace was failed in the first instance, she was a child and the Minister has a role in that regard.
Sentiment score: 0.30
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. There was something really stark in the response to the report's publication. Usually, we would be shocked by such failures and grave injustices but on the back of this report's publication, we saw widespread disbelief and disappointment concerning what the report was all about. It took a very long time to conclude the report - eight years - and it has cost millions in taxpayers' money, yet there is a feeling the report has not answered key questions. For us, the Minister and her Department, it is about care and protection. That brings us to the State care system that exists today and what we can take from all this to ensure that the system works as best it can for the children in it.
Sentiment score: 0.11
I appreciate the steps the Minister has taken and the work that will be undertaken on the back of the report specific to this case, and rightly so, as that needs to be done, but I also want to impress on the Minister the need to look at the care system today. The Children's Residential and Aftercare Voluntary Association has repeatedly called for a review of Ireland's care system. It has raised repeatedly the increase in unregistered and uninspected for-profit providers in the system. The Child Law Project has raised issues relating to the care system and judges have, at various points in time, raised issues and voiced despair at the system. While it is important we see steps taken on the back of this report, I also ask the Minister to look at the care system today.
Sentiment score: 0.51
87. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on ongoing pay talks for early years educators. [21194/25]
Sentiment score: -0.03
I ask for an update on the ongoing talks on pay, particularly regarding the €45 million announced in budget 2025 that will be ring-fenced for pay for our early years educators.
Sentiment score: -0.20
This is an issue I have raised on a number of occasions with the Minister. I welcome the fact she has met and engaged with the JLC and that she has gone further than that in asking it to utilise the €45 million because it is key we improve pay for the early years educators. We know staff turnover in the early years sector is really high. I got a breakdown, county by county. The annual turnover in private providers is up on 54% in some counties. That is good early years educators leaving the sector. It means more waiting lists for children trying to get places. It means more rooms closed in childcare facilities at a time when there is so much demand. If we do not get pay right for early years educators, we will not have the necessary number of childcare facilities we desperately need. I welcome the Minister's move in that regard and we should take the opportunity to call on them for the talks to conclude and for that full amount to be-----
Sentiment score: 0.16
The Minister will be aware SIPTU is raising concerns about the fact the talks have been ongoing for a number of months and it feels there is a gap between the providers and those representing the early years educators and managers in the childcare settings. It is really important. It is good we have had the opportunity here this evening to make that call and to ask for the joint labour committee to complete its work in order that the €45 million would be utilised because we need it at a time when early years educators are leaving the sector and we desperately need them. I have given this example on many occasions because I have little faith in the committee in terms of its establishment and relying on it for pay on an issue of such importance. We know the last pay increase was 65 cent. It took 15 months to negotiate 65 cent, so I have concerns about the mechanism. On the core funding which the Minister has referenced, there is a review promised in the programme for Government. Has the Minister any idea when that will come to pass?
Sentiment score: 0.25